ory, under a contract for wages to be
paid in English money. He is to be paid off in British East at the end
of my journey."

"Who asked you to speak?" demanded the lieutenant angrily, sitting up
like a startled scorpion. "Do you not know this is a court?"

"It looks like a shambles!" Fred answered, glancing to right and left
and indicating the victims of the whip writhing in the name of German
justice.

"Shut up, you fool!" counseled Will in a stage whisper, but either Fred
did not hear him, or was too worked up to care.

"Silence! Sit down!"

"I warn you!" Fred answered. "That boy has claimed British protection.
I shall see he has it!"

Then he sat down. The lieutenant glared at Kazimoto, the glare
changing to a cold grin as he realized how fully we were all at his
mercy for the moment.

"You are sentenced," he said, "to two hundred lashes for making
impudent answers to the court, and to six months on the chain-gang for
deserting from this country and entering foreign service. Further
evidence against you will be assembled in the meanwhile, and other
charges against you will be tried on completion of the chain-gang
sentence!"

"I protest!" shouted Fred, jumping up again. "I give notice of appeal
to whatever higher court there is. I am ready to give bonds!"

"What does this delay mean?" snapped the lieutenant. "Put him down at
once and lay the lashes on!"

The unfortunate Kazimoto was pounced on by two askaris and thrown
face-downward on the floor. One of them tore off his clothes, ripping
up his good English jacket.

"Did you hear my protest?" shouted Fred. "Did you hear my notice of
appeal?"

"I did," said the lieutenant. "Appeals are heard at the coast. You
must give notice by mail, and receive an acknowledgment from the higher
military court before I grant stay of execution. Lay on the lashes!"

"I will hold you personally liable for this outrage," Fred told him,
"if it costs me all my money and all the rest of my years! I defy you
to continue!"

"You have yourself to blame!" the lieutenant grinned. "But for your
uninvited interruption the Nyamwezi would have had a better hearing!
Lay those lashes on harder and more slowly!"

Kazimoto was taking his gruel like a man. Two askaris were beating
him. The blows fell at random anywhere below the neck and above the
heels, raising a great welt where they did not actually cut the skin.
He had buried his face in his forearms, and Will ha